Kansas City Royals: Best free agent signings under Dayton Moore

BEST DAYTON MOORE FREE AGENTS – NUMBER 1: EDINSON VOLQUEZ

Steady Eddie has to be number one, right? Poor Edinson Volquez had to fill the shoes of James Shields, who was beloved in Kansas City, but we quickly forgot about Shields after Volquez had a terrific first year with the Royals.

Volquez ended the season with over 200 innings pitched, a 13-9 record, 3.55 ERA, 3.82 FIP, and 1.308 WHIP in 34 games. He struck out 155 batters and soon became the team’s number one option in the rotation.

During the postseason that year, Volquez pitched in Game 3 of the ALDS, Games 1 and 5 of the ALCS, and Games 1 and 5 of the World Series. What we’ll all remember Volquez for was when he pitched in Game 1 of the World Series without knowing about his father passing earlier in the day. He pitched a gem and then was able to come back and pitch tremendously in Game 5.

Edinson Volquez was a predominant factor in why the Kansas City Royals won the World Series in 2015.

The success in 2015 made it an easy decision as to who would be the “ace” of the rotation in 2016. Volquez didn’t back up his 2015 success, posting a 5.37 ERA and going 10-11 on the year.

The rough patch in 2016 led the Royals to let Volquez walk in free agency and he signed a two-year deal with the Marlins. In his one season there, he pitched a complete game no-hitter on what would have been Yordano Ventura‘s 26th birthday. That was an unforgettable moment for sure.

Even though the 2016 season didn’t go according to plan, Edinson Volquez was a predominant factor in why the Kansas City Royals won the World Series in 2015. He might not have been an ace on most staffs, but he sure was the Royals’ ace that year.

Edinson Volquez was Dayton Moore’s best free-agent signing thus far.